Boobs aren’t news, says Methodist Conference

03 July 2014

The Methodist Conference has today pledged its support for the
No More Page 3 campaign, and is asking all of its members to sign
the campaign's petition.

No More Page 3 campaigns
for the voluntary removal of 'Page Three' from the Sun newspaper,
and its supporters include Girls' Brigade, Mumsnet and the British
Youth Council. The Methodist Church is the first major UK
Church to lend its support to the movement.

"On page three of this family newspaper there is a large image
of a topless woman," said Rachel Allison, presenting the proposal
to the Conference. "This is most prominent picture of a woman in
the newspaper. This sends a clear message that men in suits run the
country and excelling at all areas of life, while women are be
looked at and seen as purely sexual objects with a set place in
society. This is not the message I want society to send to young
women in the world.

"The removal of Page Three from the Sun would send a clear message
that the objectification of women, and sexism are not acceptable in
society and that they are something we must tackle as soon as
possible. Boobs are not news."

The campaign petition can be found online
here and already has more than 190,000 signatures.

'We're thrilled that young supporter, Rachel Allison, asked the
Methodist Church to back the campaign and the result was such a
positive yes,' said founder of the campaign, writer and actor
Lucy-Anne Holmes.